Public participation at the meetings is limited to people
who have been invited and with a registered interest in the meeting, such as
planning applicants. Once the invited contributor has finished speaking at the
meeting their Zoom connection ends. They can resume watching the remainder of
the meeting via the council’s webcasting facility.

Woking Council will be resuming meetings during lockdown via facetime app Zoom

“A lot of hard work has taken place behind the scenes to set
up virtual meetings. We have hosted mock meetings to test the technology and
the ability of councillors and invited participants to interact from home,”
said Cllr David Bittleston, leader of Woking Borough Council.

“The new regulations have enabled council officers to set up
new, agile working practices which support the democratic process and continue
our efforts to deliver the everyday and revised services affected by the
current coronavirus pandemic.”

Members of the public will be able to watch meetings live,
or on demand after the meeting has taken place, via the usual webcasting
function available on the council’s website.

With local elections deferred until May 2021 by the Coronavirus
Act 2020, all existing councillor appointments remain in place until the next
election, including political membership and roles of the borough’s Executive,
committees, task groups and working groups, as well as all appointments to
external bodies.

The current mayor, Cllr Beryl Hunwicks, and deputy mayor,
Cllr Saj Hussain, will remain in office for another municipal year.